Rise of anti-Semitism in Europe: ‘Govts must protect minorities’ rights’

Police guard the scene of a shooting at cafe 'Krudttonden,' which was hosting a free speech event, in Oesterbro, Copenhagen, February 16, 2015.(Reuters / Hannibal Hanschke) / Reuters

With an increase of anti-Semitism in the EU, governments must take the responsibility to protect all citizens, Eitan Uri Bakhar from the World Zionist Organization told RT. When minorities are in danger, the whole population is at risk, he added.

RT:Comparisons are being made with the
Charlie Hebdo drama in January. What do these kinds of attacks
mean for Europe?

Eitan Uri Bakhar: I believe that… Europe is
waking up in new era, in a new reality out of which we in Israel
and around the Jewish world have been pointing out for the last
10 years or even more. We are witnessing a rise of anti-Semitic
attacks. They are getting worse and worse. And we are trying to
differentiate between classical anti-Semitism and the modern one
which is unfortunately what is taking place right now in Europe.

We say to Jews, to our brothers and sisters: Israel is your
home. We are calling for the absorption of mass immigration
from Europe

RT:So, the first attack was on a free
speech meeting in Copenhagen and then on a synagogue. Do you see
a link between the two?

EUB: Definitely the first attack was against the
freedom of speech, the second one was against the Jews. The Jews
are always a reason to continue and fight against. When you are
stopping freedom of speech you are stopping the right of a Jew to
live freely wherever he wants to. And this is an unfortunate
incident that is just going to lead us to the next incidents that
will be not only in Europe but also in the rest of the world.

Just a couple of months ago, the EU Commission decided to take
Hamas and Hezbollah off the terrorist organizations [list]. Maybe
now, just a little bit too late, they are waking up to this
unfortunate reality.

RT:A month ago Jews in Denmark asked their
government to protect them. Now we see that it's clearly failed,
hasn't it? Have they been given enough protection by the
government?

EUB: Unfortunately … no, it’s not enough at all.
When we are witnessing a rise in anti-Semitic expressions by
politicians and by the Muslim community in Europe we need to wake
up and say: “You know what, it is the responsibility of every
government in Europe and around the world to protect their
minorities and their citizens,” because the next stage is
not only going to be the Jews, it is going to be the people who
are born and raised in Europe themselves. People need to start
waking up from this dream. We are facing a situation when the USA
only last week, a couple of days ago announced that the terrorist
attack, the anti-Semitic attack that took place in France was not
necessarily an anti-Semitic one. Unfortunately, people were there
at the wrong place and at the wrong time. I don’t really
understand what else can bring the world governments to actually
clarify and understand that this is anti-Semitism. A Jew that is
going to a kosher supermarket that is being killed there is only
because he is Jewish.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.